Their Message: God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all. Period.

Many people have their own description of who/what God is. But on what authority do they speak? Is it just their opinion? Is it a description they made up—compiled from numerous statements they’ve heard from others? Usually. Or descriptions they’ve read in books that are not the bible. The descriptions are what they want God to be for them. And their description usually affirms the way they want to live. Amen?

Today we receive Jesus into our lives as King. His grace and truth are shed abroad through us. Jesus was not about rules. He was about heart. About people. And how we should treat others. What we should do for them. He was full of mercy and compassion. He was not about oppression like the pharisees and romans were.

Jesus incorporated friendship and fellowship and food and traveling in all that He did. This, church, is LIFE. Jesus was not a complainer. He didn’t gripe about the conspiracies against Him. He didn’t exalt Himself either. Rather, He pointed out the good in others. Consider YOUR facebook posts. What do you do? Could your posts be more Jesus like?

Revealed: who is 666? Who are the Beasts? What is the Sign of Revelation 12? This topic and chapter is subject to much speculation and conspiracy theory especially rampant on the internet. Let us maintain our composure and rationality and look at it in a biblical manner.

------Notes and Outline {Click PDF Reader View & Print}

The Dragon and the Beasts

This topic and chapter is subject to much speculation and conspiracy theory especially rampant on the internet. Let us maintain our composure and rationality and look at it in a biblical manner.

What This Chapter Means

We are in the middle of the tribulation as this vision is shown to John. The child who will rule the nations is Jesus and the dragon is Satan. When Jesus came to earth as a human child, Satan tried to have him killed. When Jesus began his ministry Satan tried to destroy that by tempting him with the kingdoms of the world. When Jesus was dying on a cross for the sins of the world, Satan tried to stop that by having others encourage him to save his life. Following his death, Jesus was resurrected and he ascended into heaven. During the Tribulation at the midpoint, Israel will have to flee into the mountains, and Satan will lose his access to heaven and be cast to this earth with many of his fallen angels. They will do as much damage on earth as they can. Satan will also try to destroy all the Jews, but God will not allow that. He will help many of them escape and supernaturally protect them.

These signs and events go beyond the tribulation and span all of time but seem to conclude during the tribulation.

v.1,2 The woman represents Israel. The symbols associated with this woman (the sun, moon, 12 stars) are all found in a single dream Joseph had in the OT about the nation of Israel. (Gen 37:9).

The twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel.

The sun likely represents Jesus (woman is clothed in the sun, prophesied as the sun of righteousness in Malachi, is the source of light) and,

The moon likely represents the church or believers as we reflect the light of Jesus and as the messiah came out of Israel.

This symbol is a picture of the spiritual relationship between God, Jesus, Israel, and the Church all originating in heaven.

v.3,4 The red dragon represents Satan. The seven heads are likely 7 geographical kingdoms possibly the 7 hills in Rome. The ten horns are the ten rulers of kingdoms/nations seen in the dream in Daniel 7:7. The seven diadems are the symbols of royalty of each of the heads i.e. crown [Easton Bible Dictionary] Diadem the tiara of a king (Ezek 21:26; Isa 28:5 62:3; the turban(Job 29:14)]. In the New Testament a careful distinction is drawn ..the diadem as a badge of royalty (Rev 12:3 13:1 19:12)…

This symbol is a picture of Satan’s false sovereignty and kingdom in contrast to the woman’s godly symbol. It appears again in Rev 13:1 when the beast of the sea arises. Great speculation abounds over the identity of the 7 hills/mountains, 7 kings, the 5 kings who have fallen and the one who is and the one to come.

Pulling from Rev 17:9-12 we find scriptural clarification - Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

!! The Hebrew, "tetragrammaton," or sacred four letters in Jehovah, "who is, who was, and who is to come," the believer's object of worship, has its contrasted counterpart in the beast "who was, and is not, and shall be present," the object of the earth's worship.!!

v.4 The scene is revealed in the middle of the tribulation as this vision is shown to John.

v.5,6 the male child - this is a sign showing the heavenly view of the birth of Christ.

v.7-12 This war in heaven happened before Eden (Isa 14:2) and and is again fought with more finality. The angels that were cast down with Satan are now known as demons. Hell was created for Satan and the demons. In the OT angels were also referred to as stars. e.g. Job 38 God asks Job where he was while God was creating. v.7 The stars of heaven were singing. It appears God likes “background music” while He is doing His work.

Satan is cast out into the earth along with his angels / demons. The accuser is cast down. This happened prior to the Garden of Eden (Isa 14:12) but he still had access to heaven. Surprised? Ha. This is where he accuses the brethren. We clearly see in Job where Satan and God were in heaven talking about him. The accuser also whispers into our ears on earth.. “we’re not good enough, God isn’t good, He doesn’t love us..”

Here, as Satan loses access to heaven he intensifies his persecution of Jews and Christians knowing he has little time left to carry out his desire.

Satan has always opposed God. He has tried to thwart God’s plans from day 1. He tried to get Joseph to divorce Mary when it was discovered that she was pregnant with the Christ. He tried to use Herod to kill Jesus as a baby. Since that time Satan has used people, armies, religions to persecute God’s children. (e.g. Cain, Pharoah, Haman, Herod, Hitler, Islam)

Satan seems to believe if there is no Jerusalem, no Israel, no Jewish people, that Jesus could not fulfill the prophecies of His return to rule and reign His people. Satan wants to keep Jesus from returning to Israel by destroying Israel first. This would remove the desire and location for Jesus to return.

v.13-17 Israel is sequestered away to Petra/Bozrah at the middle of the tribulation. this is the way the seals/bowls don’t kill them. Satan is angry and goes after the gentile Christians. (Zechariah 13:7?) (other remnants - church age Rom 11:4-5; Eph 1:13; 4:30; OT Elijah 7000, during captivities, and upon end of Babylonian captivity)

There are three clues that hint at Petra being the hiding place for the Jew during the Great Tribulation.

One is in Daniel 11:41 where we learn that Jordan will be one of the only places that elude the Anti-Christ’s control during the Great Tribulation.

The second is in Rev. 12:14 which says that the woman, who represents the believing remnant of Israel, will flee into the desert to a place prepared for them during the Great Tribulation. The closest desert hiding place is Petra.

And the third is in Isaiah 63:1 where the Lord is shown coming from Bozrah, the region where Petra is located, having defeated His enemies there. Many scholars believe that He will do this just prior to arriving in Jerusalem at the 2nd Coming, to protect the believing remnant.

From the non-Biblical side, Jordan does have a peace treaty with Israel, and Petra is an ideal location for the Jews to seek refuge.

In the Book of Daniel 13 - an Angel of God is revealing the Mystery of the End Times to Daniel while he is a captive in Babylon. In the following passage, the Angel explains that the Antichrist will enter Israel and other nations:

41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon (Daniel 11:41 KJV)

Edom, Moab and Ammon are all in Jordan ... these areas must escape the Antichrist so that Israel can flee to Edom (Petra/Bozrah is in Edom) where she escapes during the last 1/2 of the Tribulation (times = 2 years, time = 1 year and 1/2 time = 1/2 year ... total = 3.5 years):

14 And to the Woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the Serpent (Revelation 12:14 KJV)

[Easton’s Bible Dictionary] Petra, 20 miles to the south-east of the Dead Sea. A Moabite city in the "plain country" (Jer 48:24), i.e., on the high level down on the east of the Dead Sea. It is probably the modern Buzrah

In the Gospel of Matthew, (written more specifically to the Jew) an escape route for the remnant of Israel is noted by Jesus as He identifies the kickoff event (cf. Daniel 9:27) for the last 1/2 of the Tribulation Period. This "kickoff event" is the Antichrist setting up an idol to himself in Israel's rebuilt Temple of God:

15 Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand),16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains; (Matthew 24:15-16 NASB)

During the terrible last 1/2 of the Tribulation Period, 2/3 of the population of the Nation of Israel falls to the armies of the Antichrist. The remaining 1/3, the remnant, flees this tyranny foretold in the prophecy of Zechariah 13:

8 It will come about in all the land, Declares the LORD, That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, "They are My people,' And they will say, "The LORD is my God.' (Zechariah 13:8-9 NASB)

In Micah, we find a prophecy from the Lord declaring Bozrah as the sheep pen of the remnant of Israel:

12 I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold (Bozrah - KJV); Like a flock in the midst of its pasture they will be noisy with men. (Micah 2:12 NASB)

When the Antichrist tries to finish Israel off at Bozrah/Petra in Edom ... Jesus Christ returns to save them ... After the Battle of Armageddon, His clothing reflects the Winepress of God in Isaiah 63:1-6

The Beasts of the False Trinity

Revelation 13

The Rise, Reign of the Beast and False Prophet

The first beast arises out of the Gentile population (sea). Satan (dragon) gives him power, throne, great authority. Rev 17:11 indicates this beast is the antichrist (timing is confusing. is this looking back at the revealing of the antichrist or a second revealing with a new look and message?). The world follows after him. This would be about the midpoint of the tribulation and only has 42 months to carry it out. One of his heads has a fatal wound that was healed mimicking Jesus’ death. (This is either literal or metaphorical of the revived kingdom.)

A second beast comes out of the earth with two horns like a lamb and speaks as a dragon. Makes those left on earth worship the first beast. Performs great signs, deceived. Tells earth dwellers to make an image of the first beast from the sea and to worship it or be killed. He causes everyone to put the mark on their right hand or forehead in order to buy / sell.

Satan creates a false trinity of himself as God, the first beast (antichrist) as Jesus, second beast (prophet) as Holy Spirit.

identities/definitions:

beast out of the sea (gentiles) = beast 1

gets power from dragon, has 7 heads, 10 diadems. beast had head like slain, and is the antichrist aka the false prophet.

beast out of the earth (israel) = beast 2 false prophet, a counterfeit holy spirit; horns like a lamb (religious symbol)...spoke as a dragon. exercises all authority of the first beast in his presence. makes earth dwellers worship the first beast. performs signs. gives breath to the image of the 1st beast. causes everyone to get the mark of the beast.

v. 12 The first beast has a fatal wound caused by a sword (v.14) that was healed.

v.13 Performs great signs even calling down fire from heaven. This mirrors signs that God did in the OT.

Forced Worship

v.14 The second beast makes an image of the first beast and insists all worship it. This is reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel, Stalin, Buddha, Hitler, Mao, Kim il Sung, etc. These leaders begin to view themselves as god. Breaks the first three commandments.

The first Beast / little horn of Dan 7:8 focuses on the military and political realms. While the second beast, the False Prophet will focus on the religious and economic means of submission.

First half of tribulation is used to unite everyone under one world religion. The second half is about worshipping the Beast.

This is why the Church and the Holy Spirit need to be moved out of the way via the Rapture and 2 Thess 2:7. Else, they would tell everyone what was going on, who the Antichrist is, and keep him from deceiving so many.

The Mark of the Beast 666

v.15 the first and second beast conspire to make the image come alive and speak. Those who don’t worship the beast are killed by the unholy trinity.

Rev 13:15.. causes all to take a mark on their right hand or forehead. the mark is required to buy or sell (not having anything to do with worshipping on Sunday as the Seventh Day Adventists profess).

Who is this man? Unknown at this point. **

What’s The Big Deal of Taking the Mark?

Rev 14:9 - angel warns those who take the mark they will drink of the wine of the wrath of God.

If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus by this point, and have miraculously survived, you will have no reason to not accept the mark. It’ll make sense. You will see no penalty for taking it. Much like Esau selling his birthright to Jacob because he was hungry.

Difficulty For Believers Living At This Time

We can only imagine what it would be like for those having to refuse the mark, refuse to worship the beast, and having the spiritual discernment knowing who these two beasts are and whom is empowering them. Many will be killed for their faith and become “tribulation saints”.

All this difficulty while God is pouring out His 7 bowls of wrath. It seems probable that non-Jew believers will even die as collateral damage from the bowls of wrath. This is no different really than believers dying now in connection with calamity or car accidents etc.

Things to Remember

The Church is gone, in Heaven

We won’t need to know who 666 is nor who the 10 nations are or who the Antichrist is.

Unsaved people we know will go through tribulation

Take note of what happens to those who are forced to worship the image, make sure you worship only God.

God will create a new earth and has a dwelling just for you.

We overcome ONLY by the blood

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:11

God uses the 144,000 to preach the saving gospel to the world during the tribulation, uses the 2 witnesses to preach the saving gospel to the world during the tribulation, uses an angel flying across the sky declaring the gospel to the world during the tribulation, uses an angel to warn people not to take the mark of the beast during the tribulation.

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Notes and Outline

The 144,000 + 2 Witnesses

Rev 7 - Jews/Gentiles saved during Tribulation:

v.1-3 The four angels who have been tasked with harming the earth and sea (first four Trumpets Rev . Fifth angel ascends from the east horizon calling to the 4 angels to pause until they have sealed the bond-servants. They are sealed by the HS.

The sealed remnant of the Jews (v.4-8) evangelize (v.9-17) many who then believe and suffer martyrdom while others enter the millennium with their natural bodies.

So Who Are The 144,000?!

v.4-8 An angel seals the bond-servants of God on the forehead. 144,000 Jews (12k from each of the 12 tribes). This is a Jewish remnant that now presumably evangelizes other Jews and the rest of the world. We are still in the early stages of the Tribulation, prior to the half-way mark, between 6th and 7th seals.

Remember earlier we looked at Zechariah’s prophecy in Chap 13:8,9 looking ahead to this time (the tribulation—the time where 2/3 of the Jews will be killed and 1/3 come through the ‘fire’.) eventually to 12:10 (the Return). This is also the time spoken of by Ezekiel 37:14 (having already come into their land, but will continue in the millennial reign); 39:29 (the sealing is but one fulfillment of 39:25-29; Isa 32:15; Ezek 36:27; 37:14; Joel 2:28). [premillennial, pre-tribulation view of end times]

These 144,000 appear again (Chap 14) with Jesus standing together on Mount Zion. They are identified as to whom was selected within each tribe.

v.9-17 Uncountable multitude of Gentiles get saved and taken to heaven during the 7 years, not at one time. This is God’s heart that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

VISION OF THE LITTLE BOOK

Rev 10 - Time’s Up, No More Delay

The seventh angel standing on the sea and on the land. John is told to get the book from that angel and to eat it. This happens approaching the midpoint and must happen prior to the 7 bowls of wrath.

Rev 11:1,2 - Times of the Gentilesconclude in 42 months (3.5 years) - The times of the Gentiles began with the Babylonian captivity in 700 b.c. appx and concludes somewhere between the midpoint of the tribulation and the end of the tribulation. (arguments both ways)

Rev 11:3 The Two witnesses The two witnesses (*see discussion of identity below) stand and prophesy for 1260 days (3.5 years). Fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies. Have the power to shut up the sky and to turn the water into blood and strike the earth with plague.

When they finish the beast comes up out of the abyss and kills them. Their dead bodies lie in the street where Jesus was crucified. People look at the dead bodies for 3.5 days and will not permit burial. (v.8 refers to Jeremiah 23:14 - …All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.)

People (unsaved) rejoice over them and send gifts to one another because they are dead. Then God calls them up into heaven and a great earthquake occurs; a tenth of the city falls and 7000 people are killed. the second woe. (believe the 3rd is Babylon in ch.17)

These two witnesses start early on in the tribulation and are called up to heaven right before the midpoint. Their witnessing to the Gospel is just one more example of God’s heart that none should perish (2 Pet 3:9).